British troops could withdraw from Afghanistan a year early

The earliest date that Britain’s forces could leave is the end of next yearTime photographer, Richard Pohle

Philip Hammond raised the prospect of bringing British troops home from Afghanistan a year earlier than planned yesterday as it emerged that preparations were already under way for the withdrawal.

Britain’s 9,500 combat troops posted in the southern province of Helmand will be brought home by the end of 2014 under the present plans. However, the Defence Secretary acknowledged for the first time that the British pull-out could come sooner if a swifter exit is favoured by the United States. He suggested that the end of next year was the earliest possible completion date for the British drawdown because of the logistical challenges of bringing £4 billion of military kit home.

A debate is raging within the Cabinet and among senior military figures over the…